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August 19, 2025 In Conservation Projects, News, Special Events, Uncategorized, Waterfowl

Waterfowl Festival Grants $15,000 to Community Conservation Partners

For immediate release: 

August 19, 2025

 

Press contact: Deena Kilmon, Executive Director, 410-829-4052

 

Waterfowl Festival Announces  $15,000 in Community Grants

Easton, MD – As part of our ongoing commitment to preserving our rural environment and supporting wildlife conservation, we are pleased to award grants to three outstanding organizations: Delaware Ducks Unlimited Greenwing Conservation Festival, Pickering Creek Audubon Center, and ShoreRivers. Each organization created exceptional projects that will educate and have a positive impact on our community. 

 

“Each year we are proud to give back to organizations working on conservation and education in the community,” remarked Chip Heaps, Conservation Committee chairman. “This year, the competition was tough with well over $170K in requests. We congratulate the three winning projects on rising to the top in a competitive process.”

To celebrate their efforts, the festival will host a “Local Catch Feast” on September 14th at the Waterfowl Building. Grantees from 2024 and 2025 will showcase highlights of their projects while attendees enjoy a reception featuring local seafood. Featured on the menu are the invasive species chesapeake channa and blue catfish. Other items include crab soup, locally grown oysters and local beverages. Tickets can be purchased at waterfowlfestival.org.

 

Every year, our Community in Conservation Grant Program accepts funding requests from non-profits and community organizations across the region whose mission is to make a difference in supporting our shared mission of environmental conservation. The program supports projects that are at the intersection of waterfowl and habitat conservation and how this impacts our community, whether they are focused on education and outreach, science and research, or restoration. Ideally, projects include aspects of each focus area and benefit our waterfowl, their habitats, and the people of our community. Past awardees include University of MD- Horn Point, University of Delaware, and Talbot County Public Schools. The grant cycle will re-open in spring 2026.

 

Non-profit organizations that impact the environment or the education of our community in this space are welcome to exhibit this year in our Chesapeake Bay Pavilion at Easton High School during this year’s Waterfowl Festival November 14-16, 2025. Please contact the Waterfowl Festival for more information on how your organization can participate by emailing or by calling our office, 410-822-4567.

Pictured: Jan Hynson, Waterfowl Festival Board Member; Mary Helen Gillen. Educator and Climate Program Coordinator at Pickering Creek Audubon Center; Amanda Hoyt, Regional Biologist for the Chesapeake DU; Taylor Deemer, Director of Development DE and MD Ducks Unlimited; Julie Susman Waterfowl Festival Board President; Jerry Serie, Waterfowl Festival Conservaton Committee; Chip Heaps, Waterfowl Festival Board of Directors/Conservation Committee Chairman; Deena Kilmon, Executive Director, Waterfowl Festival.

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June 16, 2025 In Uncategorized

Waterfowl Festival Receives FY 2025 Historic Preservation Capital Grant 

The Waterfowl Festival Inc, is excited to announce that the Waterfowl Building (formerly the Easton Armory) will be receiving a new roof after being awarded a grant from The Maryland Historical Trust.  The Historic Preservation Capital Grant Program provides support to organizations and private citizens for preservation-related acquisition and construction projects as well as for architectural, engineering, archaeology, and consulting services needed in the development of construction projects. For FY25, the Historic Preservation Capital Grant program received 55 applications requesting over $4 million in funding. This year’s nine  grant awards range from $40,000 to $100,000. 

 

“This is fantastic news,” remarked Tony Kern, Waterfowl Festival Board Vice- president. “While we are proud to be the stewards of the building for the community, the maintenance and upkeep is a challenge. This award will help us preserve the integrity of the structure for future generations of Talbot County community members.”

 

The Armory, built in 1927, hosts dozens of community events each year including Plein Air Easton, TIS Lip Sync Battle, the Annual Frederick Douglass Birthday Dinner, First Night Talbot, and the iconic Waterfowl Festival each November. Historically, it has held political rallies, numerous civic organizations, and many pivotal events in Easton’s history. Plans to renovate the interior will be developed over the coming year based on funding and community input.

 

Work will begin in late summer. For more information on use of the Waterfowl building for your organization, please contact .

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June 16, 2025 In News, Special Events

Waterfowl Festival, Inc. grants $30,000 in scholarships to local students 

[Easton, MD] – May 21, 2025  The Waterfowl Festival is pleased to announce that they have selected 15 qualified recipients of this year’s William H. Perry Scholarships with a combined total of  $30,000.

 

The scholarship recipients are William Sherwood, Chesapeake College; Liam Swadley, Rochester Institute of Technology; Lavinia Tindall, University of Maryland; Pippa Milhollan, University of Maryland; Robert Norbury, Wor-Wic College; Viviana Morris, University of Chicago; Joshua Sherwood, University of Maryland; Jack Townsend, Salisbury University; Isabella Jobeck, James Madison University; Graham Willis, Chesapeake College; Charles Kaminskas, Coastal Carolina University; Brian Milhollan, University of Kentucky; Billy Haufe, University of Maryland ; Ashton Milhollan, Loyola University; Cole Paradine, University of Maryland.

 

Ernie Burns, Chairman of the Waterfowl Festival Scholarship Committee, shared, “We are incredibly proud of our recipients. Their dedication to volunteerism truly embodies the spirit of the Waterfowl Festival and the Eastern Shore.” 

 

Each year, students from across the region who have served as “duck sitters” or youth volunteers for the Festival are invited to apply for academic support through the William A. Perry Scholarship Fund. This scholarship recognizes the young volunteers whose energy, dedication, and enthusiasm have been an important part of the legacy of this family friendly event for over fifty years. 

 

Created in honor of Festival co-founder William A. Perry and his wife Betty, this fund supports students from across the region for their post-secondary education.

 

To qualify for the scholarship, applicants must be high school seniors or current students enrolled in an accredited college, university, trade school, or graduate/post-graduate program. They must also be in good academic standing and have contributed significant time and service as a volunteer for the Waterfowl Festival. To volunteer, please email or call the festival office, 410-822-4567.

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May 27, 2025 In Art, Artists, Featured Art, Galleries, News, Painters, Uncategorized

Hall of Fame Painter Joe Seme to Showcase Work at Easton’s First Friday Gallery Walk

[Easton, MD] – May 27, 2025 –FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The June First Friday Gallery Walk exhibit and open house at the Waterfowl Building is set to feature North Carolina artist Joe Seme. Seme is well known for his major “trompe l’oeil” (fool the eye) realistic still life paintings which are carefully researched and and may take three or four months to complete. Seme, a Waterfowl Hall of Fame honoree, painted the 2023, 1980, and 1990 Festival posters. He has been profiled in numerous publications including American Artist, American Art Review, Chesapeake Travel and Leisure, Salt, and Ducks Unlimited. 

Joe Seme’s artistic journey spans decades, with a portfolio that includes intricate still lifes, landscapes, and decoy carvings. His deep connection to the Eastern Shore is evident in pieces like “Eastern Shore,” a painting commissioned as the 2023 poster for the Waterfowl Festival. Seme has been a fixture at the festival since 1978 and was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 1992.

Attendees of the First Friday Gallery Walk will have the chance to view a selection of Seme’s original works, including limited edition giclée prints and original pieces of antique toys, collectables, and other diverse subjects in addition to his well known Eastern Shore subjects. His art, characterized by meticulous detail and storytelling nature – each work a journey into a magical universe created by the artist.

First Friday Gallery Walk is sponsored by the Easton Economic Development Corporation. For more information on this event, visit DiscoverEaston.com. 

Event Details:

  • Date: June 6, 2025
  • Time: 3:00 PM-6:00 PM
  • Location: The Waterfowl Building, 40 S. Harrison Street

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About the Waterfowl Festival

Since 1971, the Waterfowl Festival has raised nearly six million dollars for conservation and education efforts. Proceeds from the festival support various environmental, art, student scholarships,  and cultural initiatives, ensuring that future generations can understand and enjoy the beauty and diversity of waterfowl and their environments. The festival also plays a vital role in supporting the local community, drawing visitors from around the country and boosting the regional economy.

The Waterfowl Festival gratefully acknowledges the support of the Maryland State Arts Council, the Maryland Historic Trust, the Town of Easton, Talbot County Government, and all of our incredible community partners including the hundreds of volunteers that make all the magic happen. 

For more information about the Waterfowl Festival, including ticket sales and a full schedule of events, please visit www.waterfowlfestival.org.

Images: “Delft Cat”, “Eastern Shore”, “Paris Pig”

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May 20, 2025 In Art, News, Promotional Partners, Special Events, Uncategorized, Waterfowl

Talbot Treasures Event to Celebrate Community History

As part of the Talbot250 celebration, a new community-led committee has been formed to bring to life a unique history exhibit: Talbot Treasures: A Community Show and Tell of History and Heirloom. The event, scheduled for June 12–14, 2025, will invite residents to share personal artifacts, documents, and heirlooms that reflect the deep and diverse history of Talbot County.

The Talbot Treasures Committee brings together the Talbot250 Commission, the Waterfowl Festival, and the Talbot Historical Society.

“We’re thrilled to bring our community together around the stories and objects that make Talbot County so special,” said Deena Kilmon, Executive Director of the Waterfowl Festival. “Talbot Treasures will showcase the depth of history found not just in archives, but in our homes, attics, and family traditions.”

Peggy Morey, Executive Director for the Talbot Historical Society, echoed the excitement: “Everyone has something to contribute—a photograph, a family letter, a memory passed down. This is an invitation for everyone in Talbot County to be part of our collective story.”

The event will be held at the Waterfowl Festival Building in Easton and will feature a curated exhibit of community-submitted items with public viewing on Saturday, June 14.

All items must be connected to Talbot County and pre-registered in advance of the event. More details, including registration instructions are available at www.talbot250.org/talbot-treasures

Talbot Treasures joins a growing list of community-led events and programs developed as part of Talbot250, a multi-year celebration commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States and the 365th anniversary of Talbot County. For more information about Talbot250 and upcoming events, visit Talbot250.org.

PHOTOS/CAPTIONS

“5.20.2025 Talbot Treasures Flyer.png”
Flyer for the 2025 Talbot Treasures: Community Show and Tell event.

“5.20.2025 1776 Decanter.jpg”
The Waterfowl Festival found this “The Early Times Distillery Co. – 1976 Bicentennial Edition Whiskey Decanter” to contribute to Talbot Treasures. See the decanter in person, and learn more about it’s story at the Talbot Treasures public viewing on June 14, 2025.

“5.20.2025 Hat.png”
This black crepe hat with a high straight crown and flat brim was worn by Robert Bartless Dixon, a member of the Third Haven Meeting House. Contributed by members of the Talbot Historical Society.

“5.20.2025 Locket.png”
This locket was contributed by Hughlett Kirby. It shows William R. Hughlett on one site, and the other side (shown here) depicts two women. Paper with the locket states that they may be William’s sisters – Tansey Ann and Mary Elizabeth.

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May 9, 2025 In Art, Featured Art, Painters, Waterfowl

Art of the Wild Prominent at 2025 Waterfowl Festival in Easton, MD

For immediate release: May 9, 2025

Press Contact: Deena Kilmon, Executive Director

410-822-4567

 

 

 

Celebrated Eastern Shore event to feature acclaimed artist’s works in November

Four specil event venues will feature artists from all over North America at the 2025 Waterfowl Festival, to be held November 14-16, 2025, in Easton, Maryland.

Now in its 54th year, the Waterfowl Festival is a premier showcase of wildlife and sporting art, attracting thousands of collectors, conservationists, and art lovers to Maryland’s Eastern Shore each fall. Juried artists are carefully selected based on originality, craftsmanship, and a demonstrated connection to waterfowl, wildlife, or outdoor heritage. Each year, over half a million dollars in art is sold during the three-day festival – one of the largest pop-up art galleries of its kind on the East Coast. Other Festival venues showcase priceless decoys, fine art collections, and other antiquities for sale related to wildlife and sporting art. 

A selection of artists that are coming include  Al Barker, Bernie Houston, Pete Nevins, Chris Wilson, Al Jordan,  Nancy Tankersley, Jill Basham, Vlad Duchev, Sue Adair, Laura McGowan, Elizabeth Rhoades, Sara Linda Poly, Kelly McNeill, Bernie Houston, Larry Ringold, Russ Smoker, Rich Smoker, Eric Tardiff and more. For a full list of artists, please visit our website. 

Feature Artist of the year Al Barker created a work inspired by the beautiful rural landscapes surrounding Easton etitled “Down the Road”. Hundreds of years of agriculture have dotted the region with rustic farmhouses and peaceful meadows of grass and grain. Birds of all kinds find home here on the Mid-Atlantic Flyway. Barker captures the essence of the area perfectly with his watercolor, “Down the Road.” The piece evokes a sense of timelessness that has captivated generations of artists to work, live, and visit the area. Barker’s work can be viewed during the festival and the image will be used in the 2025 Waterfowl Festival poster, available for purchase online and at the festival. The artist will be on hand to sign copies and showcase additional original works for sale. 

Renowned outdoor painters, sculptors, carvers, and photographers from across the country will showcase their work in a series of exhibits spread throughout Easton. Attendees will enjoy viewing works of art of all sizes that capture the beauty and majesty of the natural world. The 

works will be available for purchase, providing a unique opportunity to own a piece of art that reflects a deep appreciation for the outdoors. 

The Waterfowl Festival is more than an art show — it’s a celebration of community, culture, and conservation. Festival attendees enjoy birds of prey exhibitions, working dog trials, retriever demonstrations, a Quackin’ Trail of activities for children, live music venues, and more.  The proceeds from the festival support wildlife habitat preservation and conservation efforts across the nation.

 To learn more about the festival, visit www.waterfowlfestival.org.

About the Waterfowl Festival:

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About the Waterfowl Festival

Since 1971, the Waterfowl Festival has raised nearly six million dollars for conservation and education efforts. Proceeds from the festival support various environmental, art, student scholarships,  and cultural initiatives, ensuring that future generations can understand and enjoy the beauty and diversity of waterfowl and their environments. The festival also plays a vital role 

in supporting the local community, drawing visitors from around the country and boosting the regional economy.

The Waterfowl Festival gratefully acknowledges the support of the Maryland State Arts Council, the Maryland Historic Trust, the Town of Easton, Talbot County Government, and all of our incredible community partners including the hundreds of volunteers that make all the magic happen. 

For more information about the Waterfowl Festival, including ticket sales and a full schedule of events, please visit www.waterfowlfestival.org.

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April 28, 2025 In News, Uncategorized, Waterfowl

Mayor Megan Cook swears in two new Waterfowl Commissioners

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Greg Mueller
DATE: 4/28/25 Communications/PR Specialist
443-746-2187, Ext. 165

Easton fills final two spots on the Waterfowl Festival Commission
Earlier today, Peggy Moray and Dennis Cassidy were sworn in by Mayor Megan Cook to serve
on the Easton Waterfowl Festival Commission. Their appointments fill the final two spots on the
five-person commission. Moray’s appointment was confirmed by the Easton Town Council at the
April 7 meeting, and Cassidy’s was confirmed at the council meeting on April 21.
These appointments follow three others made earlier this month, with Amy Horne, Pat Ragan,
and Dan Ketelsen also sworn in to the commission on April 14.
“We’re thrilled to have the final two positions appointed to the Waterfowl Commission,” said
Waterfowl Festival Inc. Executive Director Deena Kilmon. “Over the next few weeks our
commissioners will be reviewing the logistical plans for the 54th Annual Waterfowl Festival this
Fall. We are grateful to have their input and expertise leading up to this year’s event.”
Once sworn in, commission members serve terms of 3 years, after which they are eligible for
reappointment. The commission works to provide logistical input and support for the festival,
helping to plan for transportation, food, and other efforts to ensure the event is safe and
successful.
“We’re pleased to see that the Waterfowl Festival Commission is once again at full capacity,”
said Mayor Cook. “This is the biggest event in Easton, economically and culturally, and we want
to ensure that they have the necessary support to continue its success. I thank all five of them
for their commitment to this event, and to our town.”
The 54th Annual Waterfowl Festival will be held in Easton from November 14-16. More details
about the event can be found at their website: https://waterfowlfestival.org/. More information on

the Waterfowl Festival Commission can be found on the Town website at
https://eastonmd.gov/541/Waterfowl-Festival-Commission.
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Formally recognized in 1710 by the Province of Maryland, Easton is the county seat of Talbot
County. Encompassing over 11 square miles including almost two dozen public parks and open
spaces, the town has a growing population of over 17,000 residents. For more information
please visit: eastonmd.gov.

ATTACHMENTS:
(Left to Right) Newly sworn in Easton Waterfowl Festival Commission Members Dennis Cassidy
and Peggy Moray stand with Waterfowl Festival Inc. Executive Director Deena Kilmon and
Mayor Megan Cook in front of Easton Town Offices.

Mayor Megan Cook confirms two members to Waterfowl Commission
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April 16, 2025 In News, Waterfowl

2025 Waterfowl Festival Commission Appointed

On Monday, April 14, 2025, Mayor Megan Cook swore in three new members of the Easton Waterfowl Festival Commission. Amy Horner, Pat Ragan, and Dan Ketelsen were each sworn in at the Easton Town Hall, just one week after their appointments were unanimously approved by the town council at the council meeting on April 7.

“Since 1985, the Waterfowl Festival Commission has supported the Waterfowl Festival with creating a town logistics plan that is supportive and responsive to our community’s needs,” remarked Waterfowl Festival Inc. Executive Director, Deena Kilmon. “We are excited to see three new members join our commission, and thank them for their dedication.”

Once sworn in, commission members serve terms of 3 years, after which they are eligible for reappointment. A fourth new commission member, Peggy Moray, was also approved by council, but was unable to attend the swearing in. She could be sworn in at a later date to begin her term.

“The Waterfowl Festival is not only our biggest event and a major economic driver  — it is an integral part of our culture and identity as a Town,” added Mayor Megan Cook. “The Waterfowl Festival creatively brings together regional art and culture, sporting, and conservation in a unique package that fits Easton so well. We support them in all of their efforts, and we hope that these new commission members will be able to get more involved and assist the Waterfowl Festival staff with logistics and planning efforts to make our future events as safe and successful as possible.”

The 54th Annual Waterfowl Festival will be held in Easton from November 14-16. More details about the event can be found at https://waterfowlfestival.org/. More information on the Waterfowl Festival Commission can be found on the Town website at https://eastonmd.gov/541/Waterfowl-Festival-Commission.

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Presenting check to Phillips Wharf
April 1, 2025 In Conservation, Conservation Projects, News

2025 Waterfowl Community in Conservation Grant Fund open for applications

Easton, MD – The Waterfowl Festival is excited to match resources with environmental needs across the region through its annual “Community in Conservation” funding program. These grants, supported by proceeds from the annual Waterfowl Festival event offer non-profits and community entities the chance to receive monies for projects and initiatives at the intersection of conservation and community.

“Each year, we are proud to offer this support to deserving conservation and allied organizations,” remarked Chip Heaps, Conservation Committee Chairman, Waterfowl Festival Board of Directors.  “Now more than ever, it is critical that we provide resources to those who are working hard to preserve our open spaces and wildlife habitats for future generations.”

Over the past five decades, dozens of organizations have been supported by the Waterfowl Festival, creating a legacy of education, leadership, and engagement in the conservation space. Recent projects and grantees include Ducks Unlimited, the Wellington Wildlife Management Area, Phillips Wharf Environmental Center,  and ShoreRivers.

Maryland, Virginia, or Delaware organizations are encouraged to reach out to the Waterfowl Festival with their unique projects needing crucial funding through this grant program. The 2025 grant cycle will begin April 1, 2025 and continue through July 1, 2025. Grantees will be announced and funds distributed by September, 2025 in advance of the 54th Annual Waterfowl Festival in Easton, MD. 

Guidelines to apply: 

Please submit your application via our online portal (mailed copies will not be accepted) 

Application portal: https://waterfowlfestival.org/conservation/

Deadline: July 1, 2025

 

With this focus on connecting our financial resources to local environmental needs we now support projects in these four priority areas:

  1. Initiatives at the intersections of waterfowl conservation and community
  2. Education programs on Delmarva focusing on current and future generations of conservationists, enthusiasts and educators
  3. Research and scientific work of graduate students, volunteer groups
    and non-profits on Delmarva
  4. Restoration and conservation of projects that benefit waterfowl and
    regional habitat enhancement in ways that connect with larger bay habitat
    restoration goals
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March 20, 2025 In Art, Artists, News, Painters

Waterfowl Festival, Inc.  Announces 2025 Featured Artist Al Barker 

Waterfowl Festival, Inc.  Announces 2025 Featured Artist Al Barker 

 

The Waterfowl Festival’s 2025 Featured Artist has been announced, naming a legendary Festival favorite, Al Barker. Barker has displayed his work at every Festival since its inception in 1971. His quintessential scenes of hunting, the outdoor lifestyle, and nature flawlessly capture a quiet and breathtaking beauty, bringing the viewer intimately into the scene without disrupting the magical and private moments his subjects are experiencing. 

 

“The Waterfowl Festival is about tradition – preserving our heritage and sharing it with the new generation,” remarked Deena Kilmon, Executive Director. “Al’s works are the perfect way to seduce anyone who is viewing them to fall in love with the romance of the outdoors. His works are generally not large making them the perfect size and price point for the new collector -A key element of the Festival – making sure art is accessible to everyone.”

 

Al Barker was born in New Jersey and was raised within the New York Metropolitan area where he learned to appreciate the outdoors by spending a great deal of time hunting and fishing. These activities, no doubt, influenced his decision to pursue academic studies in Environmental Science where he earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Forestry and later received a National Fellowship for Doctorate work. After these academic studies, Al became a Forestry educator and worked in private industry and eventually taught his trade on the post- secondary level. Without formal art training, he began drawing and painting wildlife scenes to assist with his teaching curricula and has been influenced by the works of Milton Weiler and Don Stone, N.A. Presently, as a full-time professional artist, Al specializes in smaller sized paintings, completing works in both oil and watercolor, as well as rendering many small editions of etchings. 

 

Al Barker is the only professional artist who has exhibited continuously at the Waterfowl Festival in Easton, Maryland, since its inception over fifty years ago. Al has won over fifty major awards in premier art competitions and principal exhibitions such as the Grand National American Artists Professional League, New York; Greenwich Workshop Galleries, Connecticut and California; Settlers West, Arizona; Gallery One, Ohio; and the prestigious Salmagundi Club in New York City of which he has been a member and on exhibit for more than 50 years. Al’s work is displayed in many National Miniature Exhibitions in the continental United States. Notably, Al’s work has been purchased by museums for permanent collections, many private collections, as well as the White House fine arts collection.

Look for the release of Barker’s Featured Art piece this summer! Posters from the featured piece will be printed in limited edition.  Pre-orders are available by calling the Waterfowl Festival office 410-822-4567 or at the link online later in the summer in the Waterfowl store. Previous years prints are on salenow at this site: https://waterfowlfestival.org/festival-posters/

 

About the Waterfowl Festival

 

Waterfowl Festival Inc. is dedicated to wildlife conservation, the promotion of wildlife art, and the celebration of the life and culture of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The 54th Festival will be held November 14-16, 2025 in historic Easton, Md. VIP and corporate sponsorship packages are also available. For more information, to volunteer, or donate, visit www.waterfowlfestival.org or call 410-822-4567.

 

 

To learn more about Barker, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/albarkerpainter/

Images courtesy Al Barker.

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